Synopsis

Just when the clamor over "traditional" marriage couldn’t get any louder, along comes this groundbreaking book to ask, "What tradition?" In Marriage, a History, historian and marriage expert Stephanie Coontz takes readers from the marital intrigues of ancient Babylon to the torments of Victorian lovers to demonstrate how recent the idea of marrying for love is—and how absurd it would have seemed to most of our ancestors. It was when marriage moved into the emotional sphere in the nineteenth century, she argues, that it suffered as an institution just as it began to thrive as a personal relationship. This enlightening and hugely entertaining book brings intelligence, perspective, and wit to today’s marital debate.

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CUSTOMER REVIEWS

Marriage, a History

Average rating

5 / 5

Eye-opener

February 17th, 2014

Really gave a lot of insight on the current conditions of marriage, and made its case in a rock-solid, compelling way. Highly recommended for anyone interested in the past, present, and future of marriage and the family.